Consider The Covenant Series

BIG IDEA:

THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH FOR GOD TO ABANDON HIS PEOPLE TO DEFEAT AND REJECTION

I. (:1-11) GOD’S PEOPLE APPEAR TO BE DEFEATED AND REJECTED

A. Images of Defeat and Rejection

1. Rejected (:1)

2. Smoked by God’s Anger (:1)

3. Ruined (:3)

4. Damaged (:3)

5. Smashed (:6)

6. Burned (:7;8)

7. Defiled (:7)

8. Subdued (:8)

9. Cut off from God (:9-11)

B. Searching Questions of Defeat and Rejection

1. The Why Questions

"Why hast Thou rejected us forever?" (:1)

"Why does Thine anger smoke against the sheep of Thy pasture?" (:1)

"Why dost Thou withdraw Thy hand, even Thy right hand?" (:11)

2. The How Long Question

"How long, O God, will the adversary revile, and the enemy spurn

Thy name forever?" (:10)

C. Expectation of Deliverance based on Covenant Relationship

1. "the sheep of Thy pasture" (:1)

2. "Thy congregation which Thou hast purchased of old"

"which Thou hast redeemed to be the tribe of Thine inheritance"

"and Mount Zion where Thou hast dwelt " (:2)

3. "the sanctuary" (:3; 7)

"the meeting place" (:4; 8)

"the dwelling place of Thy name" (:7)

II. (:12-17) GOD HAS A HISTORY OF DRAMATIC DELIVERANCES

AND DISPLAYS OF POWER

A. (:12) My Relationship to this God

"God is my King from of old"

B. (:13-14) God’s History of Dramatic Deliverances

pictures reflecting God delivering His people at the Exodus

C. (:15-17) God’s History of Displays of Power

III. (:18-23) GOD’S NAME IS AT STAKE

A. God’s Enemies are Mocking Him

"the enemy has reviled"

"a foolish people has spurned Thy name"

B. God’s People are Afflicted and in Danger

"Do not deliver the soul of Thy turtledove to the wild beast "

"Do not forget the life of Thine afflicted forever"

C. God needs to Arise and Defend His Name and His People

1. Remember ... Do not Forget

a) God’s enemies are mocking Him (:18)

God’s People are Afflicted and in Danger (:19)

b) God’s enemies are mocking Him (:22,23)

2. "Consider the Covenant" (:20)

3. "Arise, and plead Thine own cause" (:22)

* * * * * * * * * *

DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1) How can God be angry with His own people when Jesus has offered Himself as the propitiation for our sins?

2) What types of consequences for our sins have we had to endure long after we had taken steps towards repentance?

3) How can we take encouragement from the trials and tribulations of God’s people down through history? What do we know of the struggles of believers in the past couple of centuries?

4) What types of argumentation does the psalmist use to try to elicit the grace and favor of God? On what does he base his appeal for restoration and blessing?

Download the entire Psalms commentary in pdf format

(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)

from:

http://www.bibleoutlines.com